Trolley



Oct. 13, 1931.

0.1.. w'iL o'r TROLLEY Filed March 13, 1930 mg??- l I w ww Patented Oct. 13, 1931 CHARLES nwnmw,01 nmmm mtsytvw T l I 1' rnoniinv I pplication filed arch 13,

This invention relates to trolleystructures for trackless trolleys, soecalled, and it is amon the objects of this invention to provide a trolley or current collecting device which 5 shall be ofysim l compact mechanical struction, and efficient in its operationof collecting current and which shall be construct+ ed to be universal in its movements whereby the vehicle may operate with? a relatively "1Q large cruising radius fromithe center of the overhead line structure. v V

A further object of this invention is the" provision of a current collecting device which shall provide relatively large contact. area to 'i provide greater stability with the overhead line structure whereby the bearing strains and stresses'are distributedto prevent the rapid destruction thereof.

Another object of the inventionis the pro- I 2 vision of a current collecting device in which the collector elements are mounted for'universal movement whereby they maintain ready alinement with the overhead toprevent V the collectors from jumping off and which permits the vehicle turnin in a complete circle while maintaining efective conf tact for collecting current at all times- 7 Another object of the invention is the provision ofsimple andefiicient current collecting and distributing means'which permits of the use'of a single trolley pole for a multiple overheadline whereby the total weight of the collector and its cost and maintenance is greatly reduced. Y

These and other objects will become'more: apparent from aconsideration of the accom-, pa-nying drawings in which like reference, characters designate like parts and in which. Fig. 1 is avertical sectional View partially 3 ings 2 of a well known type. The bearings 2 elevation of a trolley base and current collecte are mounted on supporting thereof of a tracklessvehiclel. f

The base plate 3-isprovided witha pin 4 having afiange 5 'WhiGh'iCOIl'Sfit- UmS a center bearing for the base 'l. The base is .rotatably supported on the pin 4I-by anti-trio tion bearings'fi and on account of-theoutboard beafillg Structure 2 is very stable'in a horizontal pla v j V "Moi' ntedon' the base 1 pole bracket 7 having a pole socket 8 whichlis pivotally mounted at 9'to be angularlymovable on the base member; The socket 8 is provided with extensions 10 having perforations or eyelets for receiving the hooked ends of springs 11 which at their opposite ends are secured toadjustable screw members 12 carried by a bracket 13, the screw elements bei ng adjustable to vary the spring tension on the-trolley pole 15.

The trolley pole is in the shape of a paraboliocurveiforthe purpose of obtaininga "baseplate on he maximum length of pole within the'limitsof the height of the trolley-linezfrom the'roof of the vehicle, the average; height beingde-- termined'by. the available clearances ofthe route on which-such a vehicle is operated The parabolic shape of'the pole furtherprov which is mounted by ja'bolt 17 secured to the end of the pole 15. A- supporting bracket 18 is, fastened by the bolt1-7f and is provided at its upper end with a socket bearing element 19 adapted tol receive' a ball member 20 "to forma universal'joint. V l i Bearing member 20 is an integral part of a-connecting element LQl thatis fastened toa yoke 22 which carries aplurality of trolley wheels23 therebeingfour such wheels, two vbeing shown in the end view of Fig i lasi; contacting with a single. overhead line-there being :two lsuch 1ines;,in spaced relation commonly usedin trackless'trolley operation;

Theyoke 22 is provided with horns'22a at I its respective ends which are adapted tog g cut that this is for'the convenience of disgage the overhead line 23a to prevent damage if the Wheels 23 jump from the lines.

The trolley wheels 23 are journalled in finger brackets 24: which are fastened to the yoke 22 in the manner shown. Although four trolley wheels are illustrated as embodied inthe structure, it is of course apparoperate. with slotted guide brackets 26 which .nIv

stabilize the yoke and also serve as current conductors. The guide brackets are fastened to electric contact elements 27 and 28 that constitute brushes for conductor rings 29 and 30, respectively. The rings or conductor members are suitably insulated from each other by their inherent constructionwhich preferably consist of embedding them in a molded'body 3-1 ofa composite material such as the well known phenolic condensation products. The. trolley wheels 23 are electrically connected through leads 32 with the contacts 27 and 28, and the conductor elements 29 and are connected by leads 33 and 34, respectively which extend through the .pole 15 to the trolley base where they connect, to a current collecting drum 35, similar to the element 16 at the upper end of the trolley pole.

The collector 35 is madeof insulating material and has a terminal 36 which connects with the conductor 34 and the terminal motor of the vehicle.

37 for the conductor 33, these terminals re spectively contacting with brushes38 and 39 which are electrically connected to the drive By means of the movable terminals at the top of the trolley pole and in the base and the universal movement of the trolley wheel support, and the pole supportingbase, the power for operating the vehicle iseifectively collectedfrom the overhead trolley line and distributed to the motor. The mechanical feature of the pole base and terminals together with the mechanical construction of the trolley wheel support renders the device universally movable with respect to the movement of the vehicle and the position of the trolley line without subjecting the several partsto undue stresses and without causing such strains as would dislocate the collecting elements from the line with result ing interruption of the service.

' I By the arrangement of the tension springs any desired tension may be applied'to the pole which however need not be excessive on account of the feature: of employing the double wheel collectors for each line'whereby great stability and contact is maintained without 1 causingundue pressureon the wheel bearings.

Although one embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the details of construction or arrangement of the several cooperating parts without departing from the principles herein set forth.

' I claim: a

1. A trolley structure for traekless vehicles comprising in combination a base mounted for. angular movement in a horizontal plane, a pole pivotally mounted on said base, a support mounted for universal movement on said pole, trolley wheels carried by said supports, movable contacts disposed between said support base and between the base and the vehicle, and current conductors connecting said trolley wheels and said movable contact members. i i

2. A trolley structure for trackless velii cles comprising in combination a base having movable contacts for electrically connecting a motor to the source of electrical energy, a polemounted on said base and a current collecting device mounted for universal movement on said pole, said collecting device being electrically connectedto the movable contacts of said base. y

3. A current collector comprising in com bination with a trolley pole, '5 wheel sup-.

port mounted for universal movement on said pole, a plurality of trolley wheels mounted on said support and arranged to constitute a four point contact with a double trolley wire and arcuate guides for said wheel support to prevent movement of said support in one direction only. c.

4. A current collecting device comprising a base, a rotatable support mounted on said base, a trolley pole pivoted to said supports, current collectors mounted for swivel movement on said. pole, movable contacts interposed between said collectors and pole and between said rotatable support andQloase, and electrical connections between the first namedcontact members-and said collectors and the last named contactmember and a motor.

5. A trolley structure for trackless vehicles comprising in combination a base, a pole and a current collecting device, said collecting device comprising a wlieel support having a pair oftrolley wires in axially spaced rela tion and said pole bein of the shape of a parabolic curve to provide maximum clearance adjacent the base end of the vehicle. A

I have hereunto set 

